Abstract
This study investigates the community-based ecotourism (CBET) model using the Aksu-Zhabagly natural world heritage site (NWHS) as a sample. The aim is to propose a suitable CBET model for Aksu-Zhabgly nature-based tourism destinations by employing a combination of field observation, examination, evaluation, and cross-country comparison of ecotourism models. The study identifies strategic recommendations for the CBET model for the Aksu-Zhabagly WWF by analyzing foreign successful CBET models and comparing them with Kazakhstani models. The results conclude that income generation and job creation, tourism revenue sharing for community development, and natural resource protection are the advantages of the selected foreign CBET models. At the same time, the higher quality of transportation infrastructure, frequent use of the mass media, priority local employment, and nature conservation are the main positive outcomes оf Aksu-Zhabagly tourism. The model comparison results show that foreign models perform better than Aksu-Zhabagly in meeting the requirements (the highest authority, community participation stage, benefit distribution, tourism marketing, staff trained program, and the quality of service and tourist facilities) for sustainable tourism development. Finally, the paper recommends that economic development, environmental protection, culture and heritage, marketing and image, favorable political environment, and residents’ empowerment are the main essential to effectively implement the sustainable development of CBET in the Aksu-Zhabagly tourist destination.